Last week I was enjoying a week off. It was a wonderful time. I feel really spoiled. We have seen and experienced so many beautiful things, what a trip!
For those who like to check things out on Google Earth, I’ll put the places that we visited in my story.
Unfortunately, my plan to travel with Abas did not work out, because he still resides at the Hope Centre, so we are able to keep an eye on his wound.
For those who like to check things out on Google Earth, I’ll put the places that we visited in my story.
Unfortunately, my plan to travel with Abas did not work out, because he still resides at the Hope Centre, so we are able to keep an eye on his wound.
Monday four of us girls checked out, handed back our keys and got on the road to adventure. We went up north, since I had already travelled to the east and south of the country with Tom and Mekenzie, so the first destination was Makeni. Earlier in the year there was another group of girls that went to Makeni and had met a pastor who had nice place to stay. We travelled with 10 men in a station wagon (1 driver, 2 on the seat beside him, 4 on the back seat and 3 behind the back seat).
The pastor welcomed us and told us we were lucky, because he was just about to go to Freetown for a few days. Since we now his guests, he postponed his plans and accompanied us during our adventures in Makeni. We went to the beautiful waterfalls in Bumbuna, we walked through the town and the market, climbed the mountain next to the village and we visited a school where we met one of the patients who had a surgery on board this year.
The pastor welcomed us and told us we were lucky, because he was just about to go to Freetown for a few days. Since we now his guests, he postponed his plans and accompanied us during our adventures in Makeni. We went to the beautiful waterfalls in Bumbuna, we walked through the town and the market, climbed the mountain next to the village and we visited a school where we met one of the patients who had a surgery on board this year.
Kate contacted a girl who was working further inland in a mission hospital. We were welcome, so our journey continued towards Kamakwie. Again with local transportation called a poda poda. The four of us sat in the back, which is quite normal for African public transport. One of the other passengers was a policeman who worked in Kamakwie. Halfway through the trip a colleague of his stood next to the road with two men handcuffed together. They were accused of some crime and had to go the nearest police station. That was in Kamakwie, two hours further :-D How often can you say that you two hours with two men handcuffed together in a packed bus have been .... So again a new experience:-D
Finally when we arrived at the hospital, we were welcomed with open arms by Melinda, the girl who previously had worked on board and now worked in the missionhospital in Kamakwie, and the two American doctors who run the hospital. What a great couple! Originally they are GP’s, but here in Sierra Leone they do surgery and they run the pharmacy and they have four full wards and various programs for TB, HIV and malnutrition. In their "spare time" they tutor biology, economics and English.
There was a pregnant lady on one of the wards that was bleeding. After some research, they decided that she had to have a Caesarean that evening. We were allowed into the OR and I witnessed the first birth in my life ... and didn’t faint ... Now I'm really a nurse ;-)
The next day we walked through the village and enjoyed the wonderful environment. We saw all kinds of special animals and plants.
I really enjoyed the conversations and the passion that these doctors had for the people, for God and for their work.Occasionally they come to Freetown for a weekend and they advised us to go to Sussex beach. A secluded beach with a beautiful hotel for not too much money and hot showers. After a week of bucket showers it seemed like a good plan. They had called us a taxi driver who was willing to bring us all the way to our place of destination. So 11 hours later we were at the hotel.
We enjoyed beautiful sunsets, great swimming in the surf and got a tan :-)
Today we got back to work. To my delight, two men with longstanding infections had been discharged from the ward. We have two other men admitted who still need daily wound care, so we are praying for good wound healing. From this Friday on there will not be a general surgeon anymore. Then the big pack up starts….
I have many more stories, but this is again just enough reading material.
Big hugs &
Blessings
Maaike
I have many more stories, but this is again just enough reading material.
Big hugs &
Blessings
Maaike
